Upcoming events
What's on in Osaka
Festivals, light-ups, sumo and the seasons, month by month. Plan your dates around one of these and the trip writes itself.
On now
Next up
Osaka Christmas Market
Late November to late DecemberTennoji Park
Wooden stalls, warm drinks, winter food and a tall Christmas tree in Tennoji Park, with Abeno Harukas lit up behind.
Calendar
November 2026
November
- Midosuji IlluminationEarly November to late December · Midosuji avenue, Umeda to NambaExact days to be announced
- Festival of the Lights in OsakaEarly November to late January · Across central OsakaExact days to be announced
- Shinno-sai festival22 to 23 November · Sukunahikona Shrine, Doshomachi
- Osaka Christmas MarketLate November to late December · Tennoji ParkExact days to be announced
- Ramen ExpoLate November to late December · Expo '70 Commemorative Park, SuitaExact days to be announced
- Osaka Castle IlluminageNovember 2026 to February 2027 · Osaka Castle ParkExact days to be announced
Coming up
Early November to late December
Midosuji Illumination
Midosuji avenue, Umeda to Namba
Osaka's main avenue lit with millions of LED lights in its ginkgo trees, the full 4 kilometres from Umeda to Namba. Free, every evening.
Dates from japantravel.com
Early November to late January
Festival of the Lights in Osaka
Across central Osaka
The city's winter light season, with illuminations and light art across the centre, from Midosuji to Nakanoshima.
Dates from japantravel.com
Late November to late December
Osaka Christmas Market
Tennoji Park
Wooden stalls, warm drinks, winter food and a tall Christmas tree in Tennoji Park, with Abeno Harukas lit up behind.
Dates from japantravel.com
22 to 23 November
Shinno-sai festival
Sukunahikona Shrine, Doshomachi
The festival of Osaka's medicine district, at a small shrine among old pharmaceutical companies. Visitors take home papier-mâché tiger charms against illness.
Dates from japantravel.com
Late November to late December
Ramen Expo
Expo '70 Commemorative Park, Suita
Ramen shops from all over Japan in one park, changing every few days. Buy tickets for a bowl and work your way round.
Dates from japantravel.com
December 2026 to January 2027
Takatsuki Station Illuminations
Takatsuki Station, Osaka
Details on japantravel.com
Early December
Osaka Mobility Show
Intex Osaka
Western Japan's big motor show, with new cars, concept vehicles and the future of getting around.
Dates from japantravel.com
Mid to late December
OSAKA Hikari-Renaissance
Nakanoshima
Projection mapping on the red-brick Central Public Hall and light displays along the rivers of Nakanoshima, up to Christmas.
Dates from japantravel.com
1 to 3 January
Hatsumode at Sumiyoshi Taisha
Sumiyoshi Taisha
The first shrine visit of the new year. Sumiyoshi Taisha is Osaka's busiest, with over two million visitors in three days.
Dates from osakatourism.org
Early January
Japanese Food Festival
Hanahaku Memorial Park
Regional dishes from across Japan in one place, a good way to taste the country without travelling it.
Dates from japantravel.com
9 to 11 January
Toka Ebisu
Imamiya Ebisu Shrine
A million people come to pray for business luck and buy lucky bamboo branches hung with charms. The 10th is the main day.
Dates from japantravel.com
February to March 2027
Expo 70 Commemorative Park Plum Festival
Expo '70 Commemorative Park
Details on japantravel.com
3 February
Setsubun
Shrines and temples across Osaka
The day before spring in the old calendar. Beans are thrown to drive out demons, and Osaka eats long uncut sushi rolls facing the year's lucky direction.
Dates from osakatourism.org
14 to 28 March 2027
March Grand Sumo Tournament
EDION Arena Osaka, Namba
One of sumo's six grand tournaments, fifteen days of bouts. Tickets go on sale in early February and the good seats go fast.
Dates from japantravel.com
Late March to early April
Cherry blossom season
Osaka Castle Park, Kema Sakuranomiya, the Mint Bureau
The whole city goes out to picnic under the trees. Osaka Castle Park and the riverside at Kema Sakuranomiya are the classic spots.
Dates from osakatourism.org
About a week in mid-April
Mint Bureau cherry blossom passage
Japan Mint, Kita
For one week the Mint opens its riverside avenue of late-blooming double cherries. Free, but check whether it needs booking.
Dates from osakatourism.org
May 2027
Nyanko Expo Osaka
Grand Front Osaka North Building B2 Knowledge Capital Congress Convention Center
Details on japantravel.com
June 2027
Scandinavian Summer Solstice Festival
Keitto Buildings around Shijonawate Station
Details on japantravel.com
24 to 25 July
Tenjin Matsuri
Osaka Tenmangu and the Okawa river
One of Japan's three great festivals. On the 25th a hundred boats sail the river with drums and lanterns, under fireworks.
Dates from japantravel.com
30 July to 1 August
Sumiyoshi Matsuri
Sumiyoshi Taisha
The festival that closes Osaka's summer: a purification rite, a parade, and a portable shrine carried through the river.
Dates from magical-trip.com
A weekend in mid-September
Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri
Kishiwada, south Osaka
Huge carved wooden floats pulled at a run through narrow streets and swung round corners. Thrilling and loud.
Dates from japannook.com
Mid-November to early December
Autumn leaves
Minoo Park, Osaka Castle Park, Expo '70 Park
The maples turn red and gold. Minoo's valley is the best walk; the ginkgo trees on Midosuji turn yellow at the same time.
Dates from osakatourism.org